Income support payments – potato producers7.

(1)

The Department may make an income support payment, calculated in accordance with the formula specified in paragraph (2), to each potato producer who provides evidence of–

(a)

supplying potatoes for processing in any one year during the period beginning on 1st September 2017 to 31st July 2021 (both dates inclusive) and any combination of heads (i) to (iii)–

(i)

selling eligible potatoes for stock feed, to an anaerobic digestion facility or to a starch production facility during the period beginning on 1st March 2021 and ending on 31st July 2021 (both dates inclusive) verified by evidence or;

(ii)

eligible potatoes stored at ambient temperature which were unsold, as verified by the Department on inspection during the period beginning on 26th May 2021 and ending on 21st June 2021 (both dates inclusive) or

(iii)

eligible potatoes stored in cold storage which were unsold, as verified by the Department on inspection during the period beginning on 14th July 2021 and ending on 31st July 2021 (both dates inclusive); or

(b)

being listed on the 2020 Potato Crop Register and producing eligible seed potatoes which were unsold, as verified by the Department on inspection during the period beginning on 26th May 2021 and ending on 21st June 2021 (both dates inclusive).

(2)

The amount of the income support payment is–

(a)

£147 per tonne minus the price per tonne obtained for eligible potatoes or eligible seed potatoes sold for stock feed, to an anaerobic digestion facility or to a starch production facility prior to inspection by the Department subject to a maximum of £127 per tonne;

(b)

£127 per tonne for unsold eligible potatoes or eligible seed potatoes inspected by the Department.

(3)

In this article–

“eligible potatoes” means potatoes grown in Northern Ireland in 2020 intended for the potato processing market;

“eligible seed potatoes” means seed potatoes of the varieties Cara, Endeavour, Edison, Lilly, Maris Piper, Miranda, Opal, Peela, Red Cara, Rose Garden, or Up-to-Date;

“processing” in relation to potatoes, means the preparation of convenience potato products which are primarily made by washing, peeling, size reduction and the removal of defective matter. Subsequent steps may involve a wide combination of heat treatments, cooling processes, dehydration steps, frying systems or freezing stages;

“2020 Potato Crop Register” means a register maintained by the Department in relation to seed potatoes planted in 2020.

(4)

This article is subject to article 8.